Automatic weighing scale



- (No Model.) l 3 Sheets-Sheet l. L M. P. KOCH.

AUTOMATIC WBIGHING SGALB. l

.P pted Aug. 3, 1886.

N PETERS PhmmLnhnSA-Jphm. wnsmvgfnmuc.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

M. F. KOCH.

AUTOMATIC WBIGHING SCALE.

ELM..

WITNESSBS j'yfaM/za/f/ M y /W/Zmw/K 5 ATTORNEYS N. PETERS. Pham Lnnogmphcr. wnsmngwn. u. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. P. KOCH.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING SGALE.

No. 346,852. y Patented Aug. 3, 1886.

Nv PETERS. PsmlQ-Lnhogwphw. Washingmn. n.0.

, zen ofthe United States, residing at New York,

MORTS AUTGNATEC WEiGi-HNGH KOCH, OF NFV YORK, N.

A; il E SMALL.

SPECIFICATZOET 'io'.ming part of Letters Patent No. 346,852, dated August 3, i886.

Application filed October 29, 1835.

.To all wtom 25 may con/cera:

Be it known that I, Moins F. Koen, a citiinthe county and State of N ew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic i/veighing-Scales, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to automatic weighing-machines, and it consists in the novel coinbination of devices hereinafter' described and claimed, reference being inade to the acconipanying drawings, illustrating my invention, in which- Figure l is a section in the plane fc a", Fig. li. Fig. 2 is asection in the plane 1/ y, Fig. Ll. Fig. 3 is an end view of the oscillating box and adjacent parts. Fig. fi is a section in the plane c' c, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a face view of the dial used for registering. Fig. G is a detail view ofthe guide-pin and bracket.

Siniilarletters indicate corresponding parts.

rlhe frame A, which supports all of the parts of the scale, is intended to rest upon the edges of the bin or spout into which the scale discharges. ln the top of this frame are secured cross-bars d d. The lower part of the frame A carries a hopper, C. The sides of the hopper C are inclined, leaving au opening, D, for the discharge of the material being weighed. ln this opening is placed a ridge-shaped plate, E, which is attached to a lever, F, that is pivoted in the ears e at one end of the hopper C, and provided with a counter-weight, G, capable of holding the free end ofthe bar F in contact with the under side of a stop, f, when there is no discharge upon the plate E of niaterial being weighed.

To prevent too great jarring of the apparatus by the lever F striking against the stop j', whereby the accuracy of the weighing might be affected, the counter-weight G can be provided with an abutment, or with a cushion or elastic pad, c, which on the descent of the counter-weight G is caused to rest on the edge of the bin or spout into which the scale dis charges. rlhe lever F connects, by a rod, U, with the crank-shaft of a gate, Q, which is hung in the upper part of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 2. A bifurcated scale-beam, lil', is provided on opposite sides with knifeedges g, which are received in V-shaped bear- Serial No. 581,292. (No inodrl.)

ings fornied in ears 7L projecting downward freni the top franie,B. lhesc ij-shaped bearings centraline the knife-edges and liniit the vibrations of the benin. in arm, l, projecting outward frein the scale-beam H andforining a part thereof, is slotted along its length, as shown in Fig. i., and in this slot is placed a nut which has projecting gndgeons t', to which the weight l is lined by screws j, so that said weight K will not swing or vibrate on the gudgeons.

lt has been attempted to forni the gudgeons 'L' with knife-edges, and to suspend the weight K therefrom, but any suspension of the weight K which. leaves said weight free to vibrate has been found unsatisfactory, as a vibration of the weight interferes with the accuracy of the device. The nut which carries the gudgeons t' rides on a screw, J, and by turning this screw by ineans of a screw-driver or othersuitable device the nut and the gudgeonst' are inoved inward or outward at pleasure, and with thein the weight li. Said weight can thus receive greater or less leverage, and its effect upon the wei ghing-box can thus be regulated. rEhe free end of the arin l rests nornially on a seat, 7s, formed on the 'frame A. Knife-edges Z project inwardly frein the sides of the forked scale-beam H, with their edges uppermost, and are received in ijshaped bearings in a rectangular franie, m, which snpports the oscillating bon7 L. ihe frarne m is shown in top view, Fig. l. rlhe ends of the frame m are rigidly secured to the upper ends of upright barsinthat are forked at their point of attachment to the frame in. The upright bars yn are also forked at their lower ends, as shown at 0, Fig. 2, for receiving the connecting ties or rods p, which extend across below the oscillating boi; L, and which unite the frame m, uprights n a, and rods p all into one rigid structure. Each rod p is provided with a roller, g, for closing the gates r at the bottoni of the oscillating box The oscillating box is provided at opposite ends near the middle of its height, with knife-edges n, which are supported in ij-shaped bearings in the perpendicular side bars, n. The oscillating box L is partly closed at the top, having, however, an opening, M, into which the supplyspout N projects a short distance. The sup- ICO ply-spout N is provided' with flanges s, which aresecured to the cross-bars d of the frame A or to other parts of said frame. The flanges s may be formed with slots or elongated holes for the passage of the screws which fasten the spout N to the cross-bars d. By making the slots in the anges s sufficiently large the spout N can be adjusted laterally on the bars d. The oscillating box L is, by a partition, P, which extends to the lower angle of the bottom of the oscillating box L, divided into two equal compartments, the top of the partition forming a bar', O, with beveled upper edge. A roller, t, is hung to the supply-spout N in position to be touched by the edge of the bar O whenever the said bar passes the center line of the apparatus. The convexity of the roller t prevents the bar O from stopping at or near the center of its oscillation.

To one of the uprights n, Fig. 3, is attached a pin or pivot, b', about which two detent-le vers, o, can swing independently of one another. The detent-levers @have nibs w, capable of engaging detent-pins w, extending from one of the walls of the oscillating box L. The levers c thus serve to lock the oscillating box in one position or the other, so as to alternately bring each of the two compartments of the box L under the spout N, and to retain the box in that position until the compartment under the spout N has received its proper weight of material. The free endsof Athe levers o project into slots in hangers a', which hangers are attached to the frame A. These hangers a are provided with abutments c, upon which the free ends of the levers o rest at certain periods. By making the abutments din the form of screws they can be raised or lowered in thehangers a to such a position as is requisite to secure accurate working of the parts. It is also to be noticed that each of the abutments can be adjusted independently of the other, and thus each of the levers o can be independently regulated with regard to its position on its respective abutment c. Any slight irregularity in one side of the apparatus as compared with the other side will thus n'ot prevent the proper adjustment of each detentlever o, and the weighing capacity of the two compartments of the box L is thus under control. When the compartment under the spout N has received its proper amount of material, the weight K is overbalanced, and the box L descends, together with the uprights n and the pivot b. The levers c also descend, and by this descent the free end of one or the other of said levers@ is caused to rest upon its abutment c, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. As the box L now continues to descend, the nib w of the lever o which at the time is in engagement with one of the detent-pins .c is lifted out of engagement with said detent-pin rv, and as the boxL is overbalanced by the weight of material in that one of its compartments which hasj ust been supplied with material from the spout Nsaid box L oscillates about its pivots n until the compartment containing material is swung into a lower position than the other compartment.

Referring to the full lines in Fig. 3, the compartment at the higher side of the box L, and which has the lid r at its bottom closed, is in position to receive a charge from the spoutN. When said compartment has received the proper weight of material, the box L descends, and the lever o and the detent-pin :v which at the time are in engagement are freed from engagement with one another, and the box Loscillates into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This movement of thebox L also causes the levers 'v and detent-pins .fr to pass from the positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 3 to the positions indicated in dotted lines in said Fig. 3.

To allow the detent-pins :v to slide or move easily along the detentlever o, said pinsxare 8 5 provided with anti-friction rollers c.

It will be noticed that the roller t can serve to lock the box L in one position or another without the aid'of the detent-lever o; but it is preferable to employ the detent-levers, as said detent-levers and their adjacent parts oier means for exact adjustment. The bottom of the box L is inclined from its sides downward toward the center line, and the gates r, when closed, are in the same plane as the portion of the bottom of the box to which they are attached, so that when open they will be closed by their engagement with the rollers q as the box is oscillated. The supply-spoutNis provided with a swinging valve, Q, which is fastened to a crank-shaft, R, extending through the side of the spout. The valve Q closes against a valve-seat, T, in the upper portion of the spout N, and shuts oi the supply of material to be weighed. The crank on the end of the shaft R is connected by the rod U with the lever F, so that whenever the said lever is depressed by a discharge from the oscillating box L upon the plate E the supply-spout N will be closed. The registering mechanism in the box V receives motion from some vibrating lpart of the machine, either from'a projection, I', on the box L, or otherwise. The dial W- of the register, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with three circular rows of graduations. One of these circles, 2, has a pointer, 3, which shows thereon each single discharge of the weighing-box L. The inner side of the larger circle, 1, of graduations represents multiples of the motions of the index 3, which are shown by pointer 5, and the multiples of the indication of this circle are in turn denoted by igures out-side of the larger circle, l, by the aid of a pointer, 4. These pointers are turned by suitable means, thepointer3 moving one step at each discharge from the weighing-box, the pointer 5 one step at each revolution of the pointer 3, and the pointer 4 one step at each revolution of pointer 5. Thus if every ten discharges of the box L yield one bushel the pointer 5 shows the number of bushels between one and one-huw' IZO F provided with a weight, S.

dred, and the pointer i shows the numbers of bushels from one hundred to ten thousand. 'lhe mouth A', through which the supplyspout N receives the material to be weighed, is at the upper end of the spout N, and is in absolute continuity therewith. She spout N dips into the box L, as shown, the partition l) reaching up to a less distance than the walls ofthe box to permit this. ly this arrangement it becomes impossible that grain overiloiv il" the weighing apparatus should become clogged.

My improved weighing apparatus is adapted to weighing wheat and other grains, and all kinds ot'granular, comminuted, and even liquid material.

The operation is as follows: Material to be weighed is conveyed by the mouth .d/ to the spout li, which delivers it to one of the compartments of the oscillating box L. When enough material has entered the compartment to overbalauce the u'eightl,tlie boxLdescends by its own gravity, and, carrying down the uprights n and pivotal ends oi" the detent-levers r,causcs the detentdevers to turn on their pivots by contact with the abutments c" and withdraw the nib ze from the detent-pin ze, allowing the superior weight of the lilled side ol" the box L to tilt the box on its knit'e-cdges u and release the gate r on the lilled side of the box L, allowing the material to escape into thc hopper C and upon the plate l5, causing the lever l? to turn on ils l`ulcrnni and the box 'V to register one discharge ot the box L, at the same time momentarily closing the valve Q upon its seat T, preventing the liow oll the material from the mouth A until the gato r in the bottom ot' the empty chamber ot" the oscillating box L is closed, and until, in tact, the weight G- of the lever F lifts said lever, when the valve Q will be again thrown open and the empty compartment of the box L bcgin to iill. Should the chute into which the hopper tl discharges become iillcd with the material being weighed so as to choke the opening l) and prevent the tree action ot the lever l?, the valve Q will remain closed, and the apparatus will cease to operate or waste any grain until the material below the hopper C is removed.

ln order to balance any extra weight which may be occasioned at one end ofthe box L or uprights 11y by the attachment ot' the levers r, the other end ot' the box or uprights can be Said weight S can be made adjustable, which is readily accomplished, 'lor example, by making said weight S in the shape ot' a box or receptacle, ot' any suitable material, and then placing in said box particles oi' lead or other material ot' considerable speciiic gravity until the proper balancing is obtained. The weight S, while thus being adjustable, is, at the saine time very compact and takes up but little space.

ln order to prevent the accuracy ot' the device from. being disturbed by any vibrations or oscillations of the uprights a, and to confine said uprights n to a simple up and down motion, a guide-pin or arm, X, is attached to oncof said uprights, Figs. land. This guidepin moves up and down in a suitable eye in a bracket or arm, Z, as seen in detail in Fig. (5. The bracket or arm Z can be iixed to the spout C by a set-screw or set-screws,

By iorming slots or elongated holes in the spout or hopper C for the passage of the screw r screws s the bracket Z can be adjusted at various points along the spout C, as may be required for bringing the uprightsaintoproper positions.

l do notl limit or confine my improvement to the exact form therein shown and described, as these may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Among obvious modicationsl will mention that the roller tmay be jonrnaled upon the bar G. ln this case a projection would be formed on the spout N' to engage the said roller. lt will also be noticed that the arm l, 4*-, may be provided with lines or other suitable marks or characters to indicate the various points at which the weight l should be adjusted in order to cause the apparatus to register equal measures of substances having varying speciiic gravity.

-What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination,in an automatic weighing-machine, of an oscillating box, L, having` attached laterally-projecting detcnt-pins as, a scalebeam, the independently-swinging dctent-levers fr, each having at its outer end a nib, ir, to engage one of the dctent-pins, and the vertically-adjustablc abutnients c,against which said nibs abut, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination,in an automatic weighing-machine, of ascalc-beam, ll, a rectangular frame, nz., hung from the beam, the nprights lmattachcd to said trame,the oscillating box L, pivoted on thc uprights, and havinglaterallyprojecting detent-pins x, the independentlyswinging dctent-levers@,pivotcd to one of the said nprights,and having nibsfztat their outer ends to engage the detent-pins, and verticallyadjustable abutments c, carri ed by stationary parts ol` the main frame, and against which abutments the said nibs abut, substantially as and l'or the purpose described.

rlhe conibination,in an automatic weighing-machine, ot' the main frame, a biturcated scale beam, the rectangular frame nl., carried by said beam, the nprights n, secured to said frame, and provided with attached vertical guide-pins the stationary brackets Z, receiving thcguide-pins, and the oscillating box L,pivoted to the uprights. substantially as and i'or the purpose described.

rlhe combination,in an automatic weighing-machine, of the scale-beam H, the rectangular frame n2, hung i'rom said beam, the uprights n., secured to said frame and provided TOO IIC)

with attached vertical guide-pins X, the oscillating box L, pivoted to the said uprights, and the hopper C,arranged below the box and provided with brackets Z, receiving the guide-pins on the uprights, substantially as and `for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the scale-beam, the

rectangular frame m,supported by said beam, y

' beam, the rectangular frame m, supported by knife-edges bearing on the beam, the uprights mattached to the said frame and connected at their lower ends by ties or rods p,the vertical guide-pins on the uprights, the stationary brackets Z, receiving the guide-pins, and the partitioned oscillating box L, having hinged doors r, and supported by bearings on the uprights, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination, with the oscillating box and scale-beam of an automatic weighingmachine, of oppositely-arranged datent-levers ru,provided with nibs w, hangers or guides a',

and adjustable abutments c, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the scale-beam, the frame m, hung therefrom, the uprights n, secured'to said frame, and the guides X and Z, for the uprights, of the hollow weight-receiver S,secured to one of the uprights, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MORIS F. KOCH. [L s] Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. XASTENHUBER. 

